She headed straight for the scrap yard.
Though located in the city, the scrap yard was really ssy.
This should be the yard of a factory area.
The walls were dilapidated; of course, there was no need for any anti-theft asures. Who would bother stealing from a scrap yard?
There's really nothing valuable here.
What a joke!
Various things were scattered around the yard, sorted into different piles, but no one was watching over them.
There was a staff mber from the scrap yard sitting at the entrance.
There's a scale there; whoever cos to sell scrap just places it there, soone weighs it, and then they give you money to settle the matter.
Jiang Xiaoxiao walked in.
The staff mber saw it was a little girl.
"Hey, hey, little girl, this is a scrap yard, don't run inside."
"Sir, our house is being painted, and I thought of finding so newspapers to cover the walls. Could you let in to find so? I can pay whatever you ask."
She wouldn't directly ntion a dictionary; it would conflict too much with historical traces.
She's worried her wings might be clipped.
Better to follow the trajectory.
The staff lazily pointed to the corner of the yard, "Those books and newspapers are piled over there, you can find them yourself. Newspapers go for two cents per pound, if you pick so nice ones and bring them over to weigh, I'll charge you; if you want books, it's one cent per pound."
Books and newspapers were most abundant in the yard.
Occasionally, people from the surrounding area would co to get newspapers or books, not to use them as kindling, but to cover walls; it's quite normal.
Who hasn't used them at ho?
Jiang Xiaoxiao walked in cautiously.
Sure enough, a pile of newspapers and books was stacked in the corner.
They weren't sorted, just loosely piled there.
Jiang Xiaoxiao first found a stack of sowhat newer newspapers from the pile, she had to at least pretend to be doing sothing.
She held the newspapers in her arms and then turned to the pile of books in the corner.
Most of what was visible from the outside were study-related books.
Nowadays folks aren't really attending school, so these books ended up discarded at the scrap yard.
She saw many high school study books; Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up.
Yes, she'd need these books later, in two years it'd be ti for the university entrance exams.
The reinstated first college entrance exam was an opportunity.
Jiang Xiaoxiao picked up a large pile.
It was definitely enough for her to carry.
Then she spotted over a dozen dictionaries thrown in the corner.
Leaning against the wall, apparently unnoticed; mostly people didn't use dictionaries for kindling.
Her heart exulted.
She went over and flipped through them.
No way!
Until she reached the bottom two dictionaries, upon opening them, she found a hidden secret.
The dictionaries had large holes cut into them, and inside, a bright oil-paper packet lay there.
The other book was the sa.
Without saying a word, Jiang Xiaoxiao stacked all the high school books on top of them, cradling the great pile of books. Her heart was heavy; it was too heavy.
Yet for the sake of her parents' and family's good life, no matter how bitter and exhausting, it was worthwhile.
Then she pretended to peruse around this place hastily.
Her mind was elsewhere; eager to go back to check the things.
After lingering for a while, she hugged the items and prepared to leave.
"Sir, please weigh them!"
The staff glanced, seeing it wasn't much.
Upon weighing, indeed it was only fifty pounds.
"One dollar!"
Yet inside, he was pleased.
Typically buying this kind of scrap, they'd pocket so themselves.
It's a kind of grey inco.
Jiang Xiaoxiao handed over one dollar.
At this age, a pound of oil didn't cost even a di, these newspapers and books were almost luxuries in people's eyes.
Usually, not many would buy them.
Generally, newspaper sales would spike around New Year's.
If soone had an acquaintance working in an office, it'd be even more convenient.
It was a matter of convenience.
Soone like Jiang Xiaoxiao, coming so openly to buy newspapers and books at this ti was quite rare.
Jiang Xiaoxiao carried a stack of books in each hand, feeling the weight was quite a burden to bring ho. Planning to find a deserted corner soon and toss them into her mind's space; no need to waste such an opportunity.
She bumped into soone head-on, fortunately, the scrap yard staff had tied them securely with rope just earlier, or they'd have scattered everywhere.
But the newspapers weren't so lucky, the few she tucked under her arm scattered all over.
The opposing party crouched to tidy up imdiately, apologizing as they spoke.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't see the road clearly."
Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't mind and joined in cleaning up the scattered newspapers, she was here to intercept.
A little episode didn't matter.
"It's alright! I wasn't looking either."
The person handed over the newspapers, a face full of apology.
Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes had a hint of surprise.
She knew this person.
Of course she did, he was the one who went to the countryside with her third brother and later returned with his ashes.
He kept sending money ho for their family after that, without any breaks.
The unfortunate truth is he didn't know her parents had passed away long ago.
Those funds were always received by her uncle and aunt; she learned of this much later in life.
This person was a rare warmth amidst their years of hardship.
This person's na was He Aiguo, though they weren't acquainted now.
Nor did they know each other.
He Aiguo handed the newspapers to the little girl, his gaze puzzled, his expression slightly frozen.
"Have we t sowhere before?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao giggled.
Isn't this a cliché line for striking up a conversation in the future!
"Big brother! I don't know you."
They shouldn't know each other, so there was absolutely no way they did.
But of course, he was a good man; good people deserve good outcos.
At least so things she knew might be useful for He Aiguo.
After all, he was there to see her during her final monts.
Accepting a favor, it should be reciprocated.
This is the essence of being human.
"Hey, sorry, sotis I get stuck in my own head. You're buying newspapers too? I'm here to buy newspapers too."
He Aiguo was quite a natural at making acquaintances.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, smiling sweetly, couldn't believe it; when she'd seen He Aiguo, he was solemn, overwheld with grief. Now it seed He Aiguo and her big brother were basically best buddies!
Otherwise his personality wouldn't have changed so much.
"Yeah! I'm buying newspapers too."
He Aiguo noticed the little girl wasn't distant and was quite surprised.
Most people didn't favor his bluntness.
Thought he was up to no good.
"How much per pound for newspapers?"
He Aiguo felt he'd finally t soone who understood him.
"What are you doing? What do you want?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao knew her third brother had arrived.
No doubt he viewed He Aiguo as so bum trying to make advances.
True to form, Jiang Shitou stord forward!
He pushed He Aiguo hard enough to almost knock him backward.
Jiang Shitou's eyes were red with rage.
Passing by here, he saw an unfamiliar man speaking cheerfully with his sister, and Jiang Shitou's first reaction was!
This bastard needed a beating.
How dare he harass his sister.
He obviously didn't want to live.
Seeing Jiang Shitou, He Aiguo's eyes widened suddenly.
"You... you're... I know you... I saw you in my dreams, you died!"
Bam!
He Aiguo took a fierce punch from Jiang Shitou in the face.
Blood started to flow from his nose imdiately.
"How dare you curse to die, you really need a beating. Who died? Who died? Who are you saying died?"
Jiang Shitou was absolutely furious.
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